The mental status, functional levels, and related factors of patients discharged from a psychiatric clinic in Sivas, Turkey [Sivas'ta bir psikiyatri klini?inden taburcu olan hastalarin ruhsal durumlari, işlevsellik düzeyleri ve ilgili etkenler]

Abstract

Objective: In Turkey, the number of studies related to the problems, the functional levels, and last psychiatric status of discharged patients from a psychiatric unit is few. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of functional and psychiatric symptoms. Methods: Between the years 2000-2007, there were 816 patients who live in Sivas and who were discharged from Cumhuriyet University Hospital Psychiatric Clinic according to hospital registrations. Data were collected on 343 subjects by interviewing with their homes. The Personal and Disease Characteristic Information Form, Specific Level of Functioning Scale, and the Brief Symptom Inventory were used as the tools of data collection. The Student's t test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis was used in statistical analysis of data. Results: While 38.8% of the patients were continuing their treatments and their relationship with the institution, 17.5% had stopped their treatment based on the doctor's decision. In general, the level of functioning of the patients was found as satisfactory, the lowest level functioning score was in patients with schizophrenia. The level of functioning score was lower in the patients who were not working, had been admitted in the last two years and four or more times to the hospital, and in women. The Brief Symptom Inventory mean scores of patients were found to be as 0.98. These scores were higher in patients had been admitted four or more times to the hospital, had not taking responsibility, irregularly kept their appointments, had taken their medication irregularly, not satisfaction taking drug, had anxiety disorders, and in housewives than the other groups. Conclusion: According to these results, it is necessary for the patients with severe psychiatric disorders to be monitored and to be supported after discharge.